Learn about community efforts to create an Urban Forest Park with Trails in LFP

Stewardship Foundation raising money
to purchase 5 Acre Woods

Walk to 5 Acre Woods Saturday

The Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation (LFPSF) invites the community to join us for “A Walk to 5 Acre Woods” event at 10:30am on Saturday, October 14, 2017.

Lake Forest Park now has a very special reason to celebrate this October which was proclaimed Urban and Community Forest Month in Washington by Governor Jay Inslee. The City of Lake Forest Park recently submitted a competitive bid of $1 million which was accepted by Seattle Public Utility for purchase of the 5 Acre Wood property located in the 19000 block of 40th Place NE.

The 5 Acre Woods site is the largest remaining mature forest within the area. It includes a wetland, a tributary of Lyon Creek, and serves as an important wildlife habitat.

Join us to celebrate the purchase of 5 Acre Woods and find out how you can help create this new park.

Thank you to all the citizens who expressed their desire to save 5 Acre Woods to the mayor and city council. The mayor and city council heard your voices and worked diligently to pass resolutions to purchase the property. 

The City has entered an agreement with LFPSF which will allow the foundation to get more funding to repay the purchase of the land by late next year. If LFPSF is unable meet this deadline then the city will sell the property for development. Although the purchase represents a momentous milestone, it only temporarily forestalls development of the property. Your continued support is needed now more than ever to help with fundraising.

With assistance from the LFPSF, the City has applied for King County Conservation Future grants, one of which was awarded in 2016 and another that is recommended for approval this year. These grants will cover about 50% of the purchase price.

The incredible outpouring of citizen support for 5AW in the form of pledges or donations for the acquisition is now over $135,000. Together these funds meet roughly 65% of our fundraising goal of $1 million [BDP1] so a great deal of work remains to make 5 Acre Woods a reality.

In addition to fundraising, LFPSF will be involved in developing plans for enhancement of the property and managing the intensive volunteer effort necessary to remove invasive plant species.

Regular visitor to the Woods
Not suitable for apartment living

Next Steps and How You Can Help

• If you would like to contribute to the LFPSF’s community fundraising efforts, contact Brad Keefe (keefeba@gmail.com) to donate, pledge or volunteer for fundraising. 

• Get involved! Demonstration of a high level of community involvement is a positive factor during the grant application review process so you can contribute in a meaningful way to our continued success.

• Learn about volunteer opportunities that will ensure this urban forest provides critical habitat for decades to come. LFPSF will coordinate volunteer efforts in a similar model to Grace Cole Park. 

• Express your appreciation to the mayor, city council and city staff for appropriating city funds to use as a bridge loan so LFPSF can continue to work with the city to raise the remaining funds necessary to preserve this property as a community green space with trails. 

• Spread the word about 5 Acre Woods. Tell your friends and neighbors about this project and encourage volunteerism and donations. 

• Attend the Walk to 5 Acre Woods for additional information on the agreement between the City and LFPSF and the plans to enhance and manage our new community forest. 

To join us at the Walk to 5 Acre Woods, meet in front of the Lake Forest Park Elementary School (18500 37th Ave NE, Lake Forest Park – parking available in the school parking lot) and proceed along the pedestrian walkway on 40th Place NE, to take a short walk to 5 Acre Woods.

Refreshments will be provided at the end of the walk, courtesy of Honey Bear Bakery and the Seattle Green Spaces Coalition.

The walk will occur rain or shine at 10:30am on Saturday, October 14, 2017. All ages are welcome. See the 5 Acre Woods Facebook page for more information. If you are interested in volunteering,  contact Lisa Pedigo, email at lpedigo@comcast.net.